Author: Kristyn Coutts
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Alistair Nwachukwu: From Man of the Match to A Friend of Dorothy
From professional football to the Oscars, Alistair Nwachukwu discusses his remarkable journey. Alistair Nwachukwu’s path to the stage wasn’t exactly linear. Five years ago, he was a professional footballer for Millwall. Today, he’s a LAMDA graduate leading a major Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) musical and starring in an Oscar-nominated short film. After a devastating injury…
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Billy Barratt: From Emmy Breakout to ITV’s ‘Gone’ and ‘The Chaperones’
Billy Barratt discusses his latest roles in ITV’s ‘Gone’ and ‘The Chaperones’ and how he’s evolved five years after his historic Emmy win. The last time Spotlight sat down with Billy Barratt, he was a 13-year-old making history as the youngest-ever winner of an International Emmy. His haunting performance as ‘Ray’ in Responsible Child had…
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Daniel Edwards on Casting Directors Getting Their Red Carpet Moment
The role of casting directors and why their craft is finally being recognised at the Oscars this year. For decades, they have been the invisible department. You see the actor’s face, you hear the writer’s words and you marvel at the director’s vision, but the person who initially fused those elements together often remains in…
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Celebrating a Generation of ‘Best Picture’ Casting
We pay tribute to the British Casting Directors behind 30 years of ‘Best Picture’ Oscar nominees. The introduction of the Academy Award for Best Casting is a monumental milestone – a long-overdue standing ovation for the professionals who assemble the emotional soul of every story. While the ‘Big Five’ categories have traditionally taken the spotlight,…
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Artios Awards 2026 Winners
Casting directors including Francine Maisler and Shaheen Baig win Artios Awards for ‘Sinners’, ‘The Studio’ and ‘Adolescence’ at this year’s ceremony. The Casting Society’s Artios Awards returned last night, Thursday 26 February, to celebrate the craft and vision of casting directors worldwide. In a testament to the industry’s collaborative spirit, ceremonies held in London, New…
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Meet the Duo Redefining Authentic Casting: Lucy Allen and Tom Payne
Casting directors Lucy Allen and Tom Payne discuss authentic representation and their Artios Award win for GAP Workshops. From the council estates of Bristol to the pub-lined streets of the North, Lucy Allen and Tom Payne bring a refreshingly grounded perspective to the world of casting. After honing their craft under the mentorship of Daniel…
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Paul Chahidi on the Endurance and Craft of a Three-Decade Career
‘The Night Manager’ star Paul Chahidi shares vital insights on career longevity and creative collaboration. In this exclusive interview, we met with the versatile Paul Chahidi to discuss a career that has spanned over thirty years. From his early days at school to his recent role as ‘Basil’ in the second series of BBC hit…
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Meet the Casting Director: Yngvill Kolset Haga on ‘Sentimental Value’
BAFTA-nominee Yngvill Kolset Haga talks Oscar history, the meta-magic of Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’ and the “invisible” art of the perfect cast. The global casting community is currently celebrating a historic milestone: For the first year ever, the Academy Awards will recognise casting with its own dedicated category. It’s a shift that validates what industry…
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Avy Kaufman: From the Oscars to ‘Sentimental Value’
Legendary casting director Avy Kaufman on ‘Sentimental Value’, Elle Fanning and the new Casting Oscar. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Avy Kaufman moved to New York City to study dance at college and never looked back. Today, her casting agency stands as a powerhouse of the industry, fuelled by a career that began with a leap…
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Full List of Oscars 2026 Nominations
Recognition for ‘Hamnet’, ‘Sinners’, ‘Sentimental Value’ and Nina Gold as the Oscars nominations 2026 are announced. The nominations for the 98th Academy Award have now been revealed at a ceremony at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverley Hills, presented by actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman. Sinners has set a new record with an incredible…